Baptism is the Way

Baptism is important, and there are two of them!

In the Book of Mormon, Jesus declares the importance of Baptism.  After surviving three days of darkness, including natural disasters of biblical proportions, the righteous believers hear a voice from Heaven, announcing the arrival of Jesus, Beloved Son, of the Father.  

Jesus descends from Heaven, and introduces Himself to the group of believers, as "the God of the whole Earth".  What is the first order of business?  The first thing Jesus teaches this humble group is the importance of Baptism.  Beginning in verse seven of chapter five, Jesus outlines the importance of Baptism and the correct manner in which to perform the ordinance.  Jesus also warns that contention is not of Him, but is of the adversary.

https://scriptures.info/scriptures/bofm/3nephi/5

In this same chapter, verse nine, Jesus explains His very simple doctrine, which is: "The Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in Jesus.  And whoso believeth in Jesus, and is Baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And whoso believeth not in Jesus, and is not Baptized, shall be damned". 

In verse ten, Jesus clarifies the requirement for both Baptisms (one of the Spirit and one of the water), assuming your goal is to inherit the Kingdom of God.  

https://scriptures.info/scriptures/bofm/3nephi/5

In the second chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus teaches Nicodemus this same truth, there are two Baptisms and it takes both of them to reach the Kingdom of God.  One Baptism is completed in the water.  The other is completed in the Spirit.

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

https://scriptures.info/scriptures/nt/john/2   

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Jesus Christ is the Father of our Heaven and Earth

According to Jesus Christ, "He, is the God of Israel and the God of the whole Earth".  I take His description contained within the Book of Mormon, "of the whole Earth" to include our Solar System and Milky Way Galaxy.

From third Nephi, chapter five, verse five

https://scriptures.info/scriptures/bofm/3nephi/5

"Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole Earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world."

As has been mentioned in earlier posts, Jesus is the Father of our Heaven and Earth and Miryam, the wife of Jesus, is the Mother of our Heaven and Earth.  In the King Follett Discourse, Joseph Smith teaches this hidden truth, "when Jesus was living His mortal life, on Earth, Jesus was following the will of His spiritual Father, known as Ahman, the Great God".

It is worth noting that during His mortal life, Jesus never elevated himself, but instead elevated and praised the Father, that sent Him.  Jesus consistently sought for and followed His Father's will.  We too, should be seeking to learn our Father's will.  

Also from Moroni,  this is Jesus speaking:

"I am the same that leadeth men to all good..   He that will not believe my words will not believe me, that I am. And he that will not believe me will not believe the Father who sent me. For behold, I am the Father. I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world. Come unto me, O ye gentiles, and I will shew unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief. Come unto me, O ye house of Israel, and it shall be made manifest unto you how great things the Father hath laid up for you from the foundation of the world; and it hath not come unto you because of unbelief. Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you.."

https://scriptures.info/scriptures/bofm/ether/1  found in verse nineteen

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The Wise and the Foolish

We are finally approaching the "end times", for this fallen creation.

Jesus, while teaching about these end times, shared a simple parable concerning a wedding feast and ten virgins (verse fifteen of Matthew chapter eleven).

https://scriptures.info/scriptures/nt/matthew/11

Five of the participants were wise and five were foolish. What was the difference between the wise and foolish, that prevented the foolish from from joining the feast?
Keep in mind, the wedding feast mentioned, represents eternal life and the wise and foolish participants, represent each one of us.

The wise were able to learn of Him and follow His instruction. They learned to trust in Him. They worked to become like Him as they recognized that His life and teachings were examples of humanity.  Examples that were meant to be learned and followed.

Getting to the point where we know the nature of our Lord, and are able to trust in Him, is a good place to be. This personal relationship (knowing our Lord) is something that is not easily shared. The five wise virgins were unable to share their spiritual understanding (oil) as their relationships with the Lord had been developed over time. They had learned to trust the Lord and sacrifice their will, in order to learn His will. This understanding is not something that can be purchased at the market. Here is an important truth: To walk with Jesus, we must be like Him (patient, kind and longsuffering).

King Benjamin describes knowing the Lord in this way (Mosiah chapter three, verse three) "For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?"

https://scriptures.info/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/3


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Miryam The Migdalah

Recently I learned there is a group in the south of France that honors Mary (Miryam called The Migdalah). Also, there is a special Gospel, written by Mary, that has been preserved in that area of France from the time Mary arrived there after the ascension of Jesus.

A record that old would have been safe from Josiah and the Deuteronomists, responsible for purging the Queen of Heaven from worship and the temple in their day.

I have really enjoyed learning from this translation of the Gospel. Mary even teaches about the path of progression/ascension. The best part though, this translation of the Gospel is from a woman's perspective. This translation also seems to enlighten the other four Gospels. In Mary's Gospel, Jesus describes His wife Miryam, as "a Tower of Strength" and "the only one who would not desert Him".

There are records, which mention Mary and suggest that She is the wife of Jesus. Mary is mentioned in the following records: the Pistis Sophia, the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Philip, and the Gospel of Mary.

From the Gospel of Philip: "And the companion of the Savior was Mary Magdalene. Christ loved Mary more than all the disciples, and used to kiss her often on the mouth. The rest of the disciples were offended by it and expressed disapproval. They said to him, "Why do you love her more than all of us?" The Savior answered and said to them, "Why do I not love you like her? When a blind man and one who sees are both together in darkness, they are no different from one another. When the light comes, then he who sees will see the light, and he who is blind will remain in darkness."

There is a wonderful book titled "The Gospel of the Beloved Companion", the literal translation of "the Beloved Companion" from Alexandrian Greek, means: "the Companion beloved of Yeshua".

The Gospel of the Beloved Companion: The Complete Gospel of Mary Magdalene
Translated by Jehanne de Quillan Author

Available via Amazon

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Words of Christ

Many people take these words (feast upon the words of Christ) from Nephi to support their search and study of the scriptures, which is a good interpretation.  Surely the words of Christ may be found within the scriptures.  The Spirit may also attend to and teach those who are engaged in scripture study.

Please also keep in mind...  

The righteous voice that you hear in your head, the same voice that provides protection for you and also prompts you "to do what is right", that voice, is the voice of Jesus.  "Feasting upon the words of Christ" also means to follow the individual direction that He is constantly providing you!  

Seek His instruction, and be sure to follow His counsel, because He is trying to lead you directly to Him.  Directly to that moment (while living in the flesh) when He will visit with you.  Nephi is explaining this process because he is familiar with how it works.  Nephi was able to stand in the presence of Jesus.  Nephi's brother Jacob, also received his own Second Comforter (Jacob chapter one, verse four: having firstly obtained mine errand from the Lord.)

https://scriptures.info/scriptures/bofm/jacob/1

"Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh.  And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do."

https://scriptures.info/scriptures/bofm/2nephi/14

Nephi was speaking about his personal visit with Jesus, and providing a road map for anyone who receives his words (readers of the Book of Mormon), instructions on how to have your own Second Comforter experience with Jesus.  Joseph Smith was teaching the same doctrine, "that each one of us should be working towards obtaining our own Second Comforter, which is a personal visit with Jesus Christ".

This instruction (regarding a personal visit with Jesus) was given from Nephi to his family, as he was getting upward in years and about to retire from the flesh.  This message was given to his children and grandchildren!  

Approximately 580 years after Nephi shared these words with his children, Jesus visited some of Nephi's very distant relatives in the Land Bountiful.  The personal ministry of Jesus in Bountiful, takes a humbled group of believers, who recently survived the "wrath of god" and creates among them a city of Zion.

When Nephi mentions "after ye have entered in by the way" he means after you have been Baptized in water.  When Nephi mentions "receiving the Holy Ghost", he means receiving your Baptism of Fire.  This process is a spiritual Baptism and usually occurs separate from the Baptism of water.

https://scriptures.info/scriptures/bofm/2nephi/14

And now behold, my beloved brethren, I suppose that ye ponder somewhat in your hearts concerning that which ye should do after ye have entered in by the way. But behold, why do ye ponder these things in your hearts? Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the holy ghost, ye could speak with the tongue of angels? And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the holy ghost? Angels speak by the power of the holy ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, Feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do. Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them, it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock. Wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark. For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way and receive the holy ghost, it will shew unto you all things what ye should do. Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh. And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do.

"The Book of Mormon has been correctly termed "A Second Comforter Guidebook".  There is much light available within these pages.  

A devoted group (attempting to follow Jesus) have put together a wonderful set of scriptures.  All three volumes are available online for free.  Paperback copies are available via Amazon.

The information contained within these scriptures has remained true to the original revelations.  available online:    https://scriptures.info/

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His Parables

Walking on Water - Matthew chapter 14

Raising the daughter of Jairus from the dead - Mark chapter 5

The Good Samaritan - Luke chapter 10

Lazarus and the Rich man - Luke chapter 16

The Ten Lepers  - Luke chapter 17

The lady caught in Adultery - John chapter 8

Healing a man born with Blindness - John chapter 9

What are we to do with these wonderful parables and teachings?  During His mortal ministry, Jesus was constantly providing "hands-on" examples of how to live in this fallen world, while walking with God.  Only those few with "ears to hear" and "eyes to see", were able to learn from the Son of Humanity.  

Jesus explained His use of parables, in Matthew chapter Thirteen:

He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

A wise friend recently explained the parables and teachings of Jesus in this way: Jesus is always the healer in each parable.  Each of us may also be found within each teaching.  We are (one of the ten lepers, begging to be healed), (the blind man, receiving his sight), (the man beaten on the side of the road, left for dead), (Peter, attempting to walk on water), (Lazarus, arising from his death of several days), (the women taken in adultery, about to be stoned to death), (the sinful prodigal son, wallowing with pigs in the mud), (the rich young ruler, who was unable to sell all that he had, give to the poor, and follow the Messiah).

For me, this way of studying His teachings is correct as we all need His healing.  We all must come to Him and seek His help, because He is the only way out of this fallen world of death and decay.  In the fourteenth chapter of John, Jesus explains:  "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man or woman cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Glory to God!  I desire to have "ears to hear" and "eyes to see".  

Here is an interesting parable from Jesus as told by Miryam, from Her Gospel, titled "The Gospel of the Beloved Companion".  Finally, a Gospel taught from a feminine perspective!  This Gospel comes from a protected source, one that survived the purge of King Josiah and the Deuteronomists, mentioned in an earlier post.

I am thankful for this Gospel of Miryam.  These words enlighten our existing scriptures! 

In the parable, Jesus is explaining that the Kingdom of Heaven, can be found within each of us and is near, when we are following His teachings.  Was Jesus speaking of our spirits, which are eternal and inside our bodies?  

30:1  Yeshua (Jesus) therefore walked no more openly among the people, but departed from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim.  He stayed there with His disciples and taught them many things.

30:2  As they sat at supper, Phillipos said to Yeshua, "tell us what the Kingdom is like".

30:3  And Yeshua said to him, "the Kingdom is like a man who had a treasure hidden in his field, but did not know it.  And when he died, he left the field to his son.  The son did not find the treasure, nor did he use the field, but sold it to a neighbor.  The new owner of the field, desiring to make the best use of the field, set to plowing the soil, in preparation for planting a good crop, and struck the treasure.  Have I not told you that the Kingdom lies hidden within you?"

May each of us be found "making the best use" of our time here, "plowing the soil, in preparation for planting a good crop", that we may find our treasure in the Heavens. 

Believe in Him.  Failing to recognize that He is the way to salvation, is literally giving away the eternal treasure, that has been reserved for each one of us.

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